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Milton Keynes Dons were left humiliated in their 2-4 mauling at the hands of Fleetwood Town in Sky Bet League Two.
On a sun-kissed Saturday afternoon, the Cod Army tore their hosts to shreds as they collected all three points.
Goals from Matty Virtue, James Bolton, Louis Marsh and Owen Devenport put the game beyond any doubt.
Finishes by forwards Danilo Orsi and Scott Hogan sandwiched the Fleetwood strikes, but were not enough and ultimately in vain.
You could argue that the final score flattered the hosts a little, who were by far and away the second-best in the contest.
Sitting managerless and underperforming to this level does not give many signs for optimism.
The only saving grace from the demolishing, with results elsewhere going their way, the Dons sit in 17th place and 13 points above the relegation zone with 7 games remaining, they are now safe from any drop-zone danger barring something miraculous.
MK Dons began the game firing from the offset, striking the bar inside 90 seconds and piling on early pressure from the very start, winning a succession of corners, giving a promising feel to those watching.
Despite this, it did take a good 20 minutes though following for anything of note to be fashioned.
MK played the majority of the first half on the front foot, yet the opening goal came from an incisive counter attack.
Just before the half-hour-mark, the Dons turned over the ball inside their own half, smothering a visitors attack and through a combination of Daniel Orsi, Alex Gilbey, Dan Crowley and Liam Kelly broke at pace, outnumbering the defenders and Orsi, the January recruit, fired home from point-blank range.
The first half continued and as the game settled down, the hosts passed the ball around confidently, oozing an element of control.
You could argue that the game was the Dons best, most-dominant display of the campaign, racking up 360 passes in the opening 45 minutes, their highest total of the campaign so far.
Unfortunately, this season will be remembered for all the wrong reasons and one most supporters will be hoping to forget.
Those at Stadium MK will have been left wondering why their side played so timid in the match, despite the controlling, dominant display that was on show for much of the first half.
Fleetwood did manage a couple of efforts on the hosts goal in the opening half, but none proved strong enough to trouble Connal Trueman in goal for the Dons.
Alas, it very quickly became much of the same and a moment than could be described as the apotheosis of the season so far.
As they say, old habits die hard.
The lack of dangerous visiting shots continued until right on the stroke of half time when Fleetwood pounced on a defensive error, seeing midfielder Matty Virtue toe-poke an effort beyond the reach of a helpless Trueman.
It took just four minutes into the second half for the scoreline to turn around, with James Bolton putting Fleetwood into the lead.
It was rather woeful defending of a routine corner kick that should never have even led to a shot, let alone a goal and more despair for those in White.
As soon as it became two, it became all one-way traffic and the inevitable third arrived.
What will in all likelihood be the softest goal conceded in the Football League this weekend, a central free-kick on the edge of the box for the visitors was taken, passed all of ten yards to midfielder Louis Marsh mystifyingly all alone on the penalty spot before slotting into the corner to add to the misery.
The rout continued with Owen Devenport scoring a fourth after 70 minutes, which was greeted with a mass-exodus from the stands and chants from the faithful letting their feelings be known and not hiding their displeasure at the display they had seen.
There was the smallest piece of consolation as Scott Hogan volleyed home from the edge of the penalty area, with a goal that was worthy of higher levels and better rewards.
Latching onto a long-ball forward from defender Laurence Maguire, he caught it perfectly off the outside of his boot, lashing it home from just inside the area.
Hogan is rather a throwback striker, more of a poacher than someone who will run miles in a game, chase and hassle the defenders every single second.
Similar to Football League stalwarts like Jordan Rhodes and Dwight Gayle, Hogan is reliant on service, balls played in behind the defence and opportunities for him to turn his opposition.
Whilst this is his bread-and-butter and something that he relies on to make an impact for the team, when the playmakers in the side cannot get the ball to the 32-year-old, he appears to drift and see no return in the game.
So far this season, he has netted seven times from 26 league appearances. His xG for this season is 6.85, so he is exactly where he should be for goal returns, it is just other factors that cause the shadow.
For a player of Hogan’s ability to flourish, he is dependent on those creative minds in the midfield such as Liam Kelly, Dan Crowley and Alex Gilbey to read his runs and feed him the ball into the dangerous avenues.
When they cannot provide such service, it limits the Republic of Ireland international’s ability to contribute.
This has been a bone of contention for the fanbase to live with, as having this style of player is excellent in a side that is high on confidence, all pulling together and creating multiple chances week-in, week-out, but when you are in the mire and lurking precariously towards the foot of the table, it comes across as a lack of effort and something supporters find hard to stomach and live with.
Interim boss Ben Gladwin must have been left flummoxed with how quickly his side capitulated.
Having ran the show for six matches, overseeing three defeats in that period, his time might be up.
The 32-year-old has tried valiantly to raise the spirits since being given the caretaker role but has not had the hoped outcome.
Following the axe falling on previous Head Coach Scott Lindsey, this was by far and away the worst display under his stewardship, and, this takes into account his first match at the helm, a drab display on the road against Accrington Stanley, which saw his side not even muster a shot on target in the whole match.
Even the most ardent and positive member of the Dons coaching set up would do well to argue that their side deserved anything from the game.
Milton Keynes are in desperate need of something positive to cling to, a sign of solidarity and hope to pin on going forward.
Maybe, announcing a new manager to spearhead the revival might just do the trick.
Looking lethargic and without any sort of clear identity under Gladwin, he will not be getting his first taste of full-time leadership at Stadium MK.
The rumoured new Head Coach to arrive and become the fifth-permanent appointment in the last 24 months is either Michael Duff or Luke Williams.
Duff, most recently at Huddersfield in Sky Bet League One, is the bookies favourite to take over the reins.
The 47-year-old would offer a different style and approach to what the Dons have had recently, so would more than likely lead to another complete squad overhaul in the summer.
Given the club has used over 40 players already this season and made over 30 transfers in the last 18 months, the last thing all involved needs is another transitional period.
44-year-old Williams, who departed Championship outfit Swansea City in February, is known around the Stadium already and familiar to the turf, having previously worked in Buckinghamshire as Assistant to Russell Martin, when they were the coaching setup in 2019.
The style of football he is known for playing at his former sides is very similar to that of the previous Dons Head Coaches, so would not be too much of a change and would not need the greatest level of player-overhaul.
Williams has been seen at recent Dons matches, so, maybe he was keeping a keen eye on his potential new playing staff…
With the need for immediate improvement and performance, it will be a tough job at the hands for whoever decides to take on the challenge.
It has become more of a poisoned chalice than opportunity in the last few seasons, so whoever does get the nod to rebuild, has an enormous responsibility on his shoulders, really needing to hit the ground running.
